Abstract: The causes of obesity are often conceived as limited to an imbalance in energy consumption and expenditure related to food intake and physical activity. Evidence from a variety of obesity risk factors indicates that their common underlying mechanism is impaired thermogenesis which contributes to decreased energy expenditure. The human evidence supporting genetic, pharmacologic and environmental chemicals which increase risk of obesity will be introduced.

The role of impaired thermogenesis in obesity risk caused by these representative obesity risk factors will be surveyed. It is evident that impaired thermogenesis underlies the consistent association between obesity and the FTO gene, atypical antipsychotics, and the pesticide DDT.

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